2023-24 Public Policy Priorities

Public Policy Platform 2023-2024

Approved by Membership October 24, 2023

EveryChild California supports subsidized early care and education programs for children from birth to age 12 and their families. The vital importance of early care and education programs has never been as evident as during recent natural and health disasters. All families need access to high-quality early care and education programs, regardless of income level. New requirements and system changes have made technical assistance and training in the field vitally important to continue to fully serve the diverse needs of children and families.

EveryChild California’s priorities are based on sufficient FUNDING to pay providers for the cost of care. Increase ACCESS to all eligible families. Support and uplift wages and training to the WORKFORCE and provide QUALITY services to families and children. 

California’s economic success and viability rely upon a comprehensive early care and education system that includes a local, diverse delivery system.

• Support Full Parental Choice through a Mixed Delivery System, including subsidized and non-subsidized Early Education providers.
  • Eliminate the provision that blended subsidized and private pay families must be charged the same rate for Alternative Payment Providers and eliminate the penalty if center-based programs charge less than the contracted rate for private pay families ^[1]
  • Support program transitions to serve younger age children and new applicants to serve infant/toddler care
  • Provide paid training days to contractors as they serve more children with exceptional needs and challenging behaviors

• Reduce Barriers for Implementation of Changes
  • Streamline administrative processing for families and programs and provide consistent eligibility and data reporting requirements for all programs

• Inform the Rate System to Meet the Needs of Subsidized Child Care programs
  • Cost of care in subsidy programs needs to be accurately reflected in the new reimbursement model
  • Contracting administrative and indirect percentages need to reflect the cost of doing business in California

Questions: Contact Nina Buthee, Executive Director, EveryChild California, nina@everychildca.org